Manchester United have secured their first signing of the summer after a deal was agreed to take Espanyol midfielder Arnau Puigmal to Old Trafford once the transfer window opens.
Reports in Spain have claimed that a deal for the 16-year-old has been agreed, with Puigmal set to swap Espanyol’s Cadete A for the United academy, with his current reputation ranking him as one of the brightest talents in Spanish football.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, United have already reached an agreement with Puigmal that involves a lucrative contract and as well as a plan for him to develop into a first-team player in the future at United, with the club moving early in the year in an effort to close the gap that has opened up between their academy and the state-of-the-art complex at rivals Manchester City.
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Although City’s academy transfer ban only includes players from other English league clubs, United will feel they have got stolen a march on their rivals by securing Puigmal’s signature, with a deal set to be confirmed by the club.
Puigmal’s exit is a blow to Espanyol, who hoped he would develop with the Serie A side and break into their first team at a relatively young age, having been with the club’s academy since 2010 after joining from Sant Cugat, located to the north-west of Barcelona.
Also rumours united are signing Monaco's highly rated defender Benoit badiashile (16 yrs old).